Ski – Water

Regina Jaquess once again dominated the Women’s field to claim her second-consecutive Malibu Open title (video above), and perhaps even more impressively, add to a winning streak that started in May of 2012. The world record holder has not lost a tournament since getting on the NANO ONE prior to last year’s Masters.

Regina (3-1/2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off) took out Whitney McClintock (3-1/4 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off) in the head-to-head finals to earn the title. It wasn’t the only hardware she collected on the weekend, as Friday night she was named the WaterSki Magazine Female Slalom Skier of the Year, also for the second-straight year.

Regina Jaquess still remains unbeaten for more than a year and Team Goode and the NANO ONE took four of six slalom events as the Malibu Open wrapped up Saturday evening in Milwaukee, Wis.

Regina (3-1/2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off) took out Whitney McClintock (3-1/4 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off) in the head-to-head finals to earn the Women’s slalom title for the second consecutive year. The world record holder has not lost a tournament since she started skiing on the Goode NANO ONE more than a year ago. During the WaterSki Magazine Awards held Friday night Regina was named Female slalom skier of the year, also for the second-straight year.

Regina’s continued dominance of the Women’s slalom field was mirrored by Team Goode’s dominance of the junior ranks. Kara MacIntyre (Women’s under 21), Dane Mechler (Men’s under 21) and Daniel DiPol (Men’s under 17) all won titles, giving Team Goode four of a possible six titles during the weekend.

Want an unbeatable ski at an unbeatable price? Goode is releasing a limited number of its pro stock NANO ONEs for $1,490.

Held in reserve for members of Goode’s pro team, pro stock skis are brand-new, never skied on skis that meet all quality and performance standards, although they may have minor cosmetic imperfections.

Perfect for those looking for a great value on a ski or even a back up NANO ONE, these skis are available in very limited quantities. To take advantage of this special offer, call Goode HQ at 801-621-2300.

Despite its less-than-ideal weather, Great Britain has had a knack for turning out big time slalom skiers. Names like Mapple, Asher and Arthur come to mind.

Pretty soon we may have to add Winter to that list. At 23, Team Goode’s Freddie Winter has been quickly ascending the European and world rankings lists, currently sitting at No. 2 and No. 15 on the Euro and IWWF rankings, respectively.

With a number of European titles under his belt and university completed, Freddie is looking toward tackling the world stage as well as the North American competition scene.

Goode recently had the chance to talk to Freddie about his career, future goals and a new slalom ski that has him very excited.

Goode: Where do you do most of your skiing and who do you train with?

Freddie: JB Ski near London is my favorite ski site in the UK. I had my first ski there when I was six and have been training there pretty much ever since. The bulk of my skiing over the years has been with John Battleday, the former slalom world silver medalist. I’ve also skied a lot with Dimitri Kourounis out in Porto Heli, Greece, and he’s been a huge influence. He’s a top coach and a great friend.

How did you get into skiing?

My parents have both been skiing at JB Ski every weekend for over 25 years so I have always been around a lake. I guess it was inevitable that I was going to try it. I loved it and my parents supported my skiing from an early age.

When did you realize that “hey, I’m pretty good at this” and that you could become a top skier in the world?

Beginning at an early age I always wanted to compete. And over time my expectations and ambitions have changed a lot, from when I won my first under 12 national championship to now where I’m starting to compete with the top guys that I’ve admired a lot over the years.

You are tearing it up in Europe. Any chance we might see you at some of the big events in the states any time soon?

I am planning on coming to Diablo Shores in September for sure. I watched that event last year on the webcast and was so frustrated I couldn’t be there given how great it looked.

You just hopped on the NANO ONE. What happened when you first got on it?

To be honest I was a bit nervous because I really loved my previous ski, the NANO Twist. I swapped my Powershells over and jumped out on the water without even checking the fin. The first set was great; I got around 3 ball at 10.25 meters (41-feet off) on factory settings. From that point I knew there was no going back to the Twist.

So you haven’t been on it long. What do you think your potential is on it?

I’ve been on it less than a month but felt at home straight away. I just had my first tournament on it last week and equaled my best of last season. It’s early still and I feel that I’m improving as the season goes on so hopefully the only way is up.

You’ve skied a few previous Goode models. How are the characteristics of the NANO ONE different and the same as those?

I have been skiing on Goode ski’s since I was 12 or 13 years old when I was passed down my mother’s old 9200. So I’ve been on a load of Goode ski iterations, including the 9200, 9500, 9700, 9900 and NANO Twist. The most noticeable difference between my old Twist and the NANO ONE is the added stability I feel from the wider ski. It is a ski that allows you to ski really smoothly, but if you get in a bit of trouble and need a big turn, it has the ability to be really aggressive. My off-side turn feels improved and a lot more reliable.

What’s the plan for the rest of the year?

This year I am going to seriously focus on my skiing. This season is the longest I will have had with tournaments stretching right to the end of the year. I have a few tournaments lined up with special emphasis on a few. I have the World Games in Columbia in a month’s time, the Europe and Africa Championships in Greece in September, and the World Championships at the end of the year.

Great Britain has produced some amazing slalom skiers, with of course Andy Mapple and Will Asher coming to mind. How did their legacies help you start your own and what does it mean for you to have them go before you?

In my eyes those guys are the two best slalom skiers since the 80′s. I like to think that they have come from the same country as me and have had the same opportunities, as well as having to deal with the same pretty average weather, and still managed to come out on top. If anything that gives me confidence that I can do the same. When I was getting started in tournament skiing I always looked up to Will and his success showed me that a guy from England can be the best around. I’ve started competing against him a fair amount over the last couple of years and have always enjoyed the challenge.

With the Worlds coming up later this year, what are you hoping to accomplish there?

I am just waiting for the (May) IWWF World Ranking List to be published to confirm my place but I will likely be in the top 20, which I need to qualify as an individual (Freddie was 15th on the October 2012 list). It will be my first Worlds which I am really excited about. I will have to see how the season goes between now and then, as it is quite a way off, but right now I feel good and I’m hoping for a high placing.

With the release of a new junior ski, younger skiers can now use the same revolutionary Goode performance and technology that Regina Jaquess used to set the world record and that Todd Ristorcelli rode to the Big Dawg Championships title.

At 64 inches in length, the NANO ONE Junior Team Comp uses the same shape, materials and construction methods of the tournament tested, world-record breaking NANO ONE.

“The Junior Team Comp gives younger, lighter skiers the chance to take advantage of exactly what the NANO ONE gives bigger, older skiers,” said Dave Goode, founder and president of Goode Skis. “We don’t think that just because a skier is younger or lighter that they should have to ski on inferior technology. In fact, it’s more important to ski on the very best while they are learning and refining their technique. That’s why nothing has been compromised to make this ski. It’s a world-class ski, just a bit smaller.”

The NANO ONE Junior Team Comp is recommended for skiers weighing up to 150 pounds. It features a special graphic designating it as a junior ski and is available in five colors: the traditional NANO ONE black, red, pink, blue, and green.

The decision to launch a junior-specific ski was fueled by a string of successful junior results on Goode skis.

“We’ve had an amazing last few months, with multiple Junior worlds, Junior Masters and Junior Moomba titles all being won on our skis,” said Dave. “This got us excited back at the factory in Ogden and really got us thinking about how we could help younger skiers ski even better.”

Goode Skis founder and president Dave Goode was on hand to watch Regina Jaquess’ electrifying victory at the 2013 Masters. After the win, which she earned with a course record 3 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off, she talked to Dave about her approach heading into the final round and her year-plus unbeaten streak on her Goode NANO ONE.

After setting the Women’s slalom world record of 3 buoys at 41-feet off at the site last June, Regina returned to the lake this weekend and proceeded to tie the record and give a scare to four ball in the process. Skiing on her Goode NANO ONE, she tied the mark in the second round of Sunday’s tournament after scoring 2-1/2 buoys at 41-feet off in the first round. What’s particularly notable about that first round score – besides the awesome skiing of course – was that she rounded three ball and was on her way to four before crashing out.

For the second year in a row Regina Jaquess pulled off a Memorial Weekend double – winning both the Masters and Atlanta Pro Am titles.

Just one day after winning at the Masters, Regina rounded 4 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off to take the BallofSpray Atlanta Pro Am Women’s slalom title in Atlanta. Ga. The victory marks her seventh win in seven tournaments entered on the Goode NANO ONE.

Clementine Lucine took third in Women’s slalom and Caroline Hensley fourth, while Thomas Degasperi and Carlo Allais took fourth and fifth in Men’s slalom, respectively. Dave Miller took second in Masters Men behind Jeff Rodgers.